Borongan ‘Parish Days’ celebrate Fatima

BORONGAN, Samar – In observance of 2017 as the Year of the Parish in the country and in honor of the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, the Borongan Diocesan Commission on BEC launched “Parish Day Celebrations” that will carry the theme “Celebrate Communion, Listen to the Mother.”

Spearheaded by Borongan Bishop Crispin B. Varquez, the initiative aims to have various Parish Day celebrations in thirty-four (34) communities and some selected schools with the goal of strengthening the community and deepening the faithful’s devotion to Our Lady of Fatima by bringing her image all over the diocese.

First of many

Borongan Bishop Crispin B. Varquez, together with Fr. James Abella, Rev. Jonathan Pading, and Mr. and Mrs. Tirso Morante sailed towards the historical island of Homonhon for the first Parish Day.

“It was both a festive and solemn celebration. More than that, it was also very symbolic in the sense, that history tells us, that Christianity first entered the Philippines, through the island,” shared Abella, one of the coordinators of the program, about the event held at St. John the Baptist parish, which is under the care of Fr. Jiovanni Bandoy.

According to the priest, Barangay Casuguran where the main Church is located hosted the first of many celebrations. The island is composed of seven (7) barangays: Casuguran, Culase, Cagusuan, Habag, Canwayun, Pagbabangnan, and Inapolangan.

Celebrating everything ‘parish’

Other Parish Days that took place in Eastern Samar include:

St. Anthony of Padua parish, Sulangan, Guiuan on June 6;

Parish of St. Francis of Assisi Mercedes on June 9;

Parish of St. Isidore, Salcedo on June 11

Sto. Niño Parish, Lawaan on June 15;

Our Lady of Salvation Parish, Buabua on June 17

July celebrations were held at Parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Quinaponda on the 13th; Parish of St. Joseph, Gen. MacArthur on the 14th; St. James the Greater Parish, Taft on the 16th; Parish of Our Lady of Sorrow, Hernani, on the 17th; Parish of St. Bonaventure, Balangkayan on the 19th Parish of St. Roch, Maydolong and Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady, Lalawigan on the 23rd.

The Parish Day Celebrations are scheduled to culminate in October this year. (With reports from Angel Memorando)